Throughout this unit, we answered the question, “Why is sex so great?” During this unit we did the Coin Sex Lab as a means to predict the different possibilities of the traits for the hypothetical offspring, by flipping coins. The coins served as a model for genetic concepts because it shows how the acquiring of traits doesn’t stick to a formula. It shows the random nature of genetics and the acquiring of genes.Then we compared the probabilities of the possibilities from the punnett squares to the traits that we got as a result of flipping the coins. We experimented with both hybrid and dihybrid crosses. In the dihybrid cross simulation we were expecting the results of 9:3:3:1 for the genotype. In the end, we ended up with the results much different. I attribute these different results to the random nature of genetics because although any amount of punnett squares can get the probability of the possibilities, the main reason for our results was that genetics is random.
The randomness associated with genetics and acquiring different genes become a limitation of using probability to predict the offspring’s genes. The completion of punnett squares and even more extensive genetic testing can only get you so far, as genetics, although it has its patterns, is random.
This understanding of genetics and how it is acquired relates to my life because I now understand my specific genetics. It explains where my height, my eye color, my skin color, and my other traits from genetics, came from. My traits, as I have learned through this unit, didn’t only come from my parents but could have skipped a generations. It made me take a conscious look at my traits and left me wondering if there were any genes that could have been recessive in previous generations but appeared in my sisters or myself.
But although acquiring specific played a large role in this unit, this unit was about what is sex, what does sexual reproduction mean, and what comes as a result of sexual reproduction. With those main topics being covered, we learned about the difference between mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis is part of the cell cycle where the cell splits then duplicates into more cells. However, meiosis isn’t really a cycle. Meiosis is when the cell splits into 2 gametes or haploids. Then those 2 gametes split into 4 daughter cells, or gametes, during meiosis 2. Then these gametes can be fertilized, bringing it back to mitosis, where the cell cycle causes the cells to multiply and grow.
During meiosis, the genes are assorted through the law of independent assortment or the law of segregation.
In addition, we learned about genetics and the different patterns of genetics. We learned about the different types of dominance- dominance, incomplete dominance, and codominance. We also learned about different types of genetic disorders such as autosomal or sex-linked.
During this unit, the genetic aspects of the unit came to me pretty easily, because most of it had to do with being able to solve punnett squares. When looking at the phenotype or the genotype of the offspring of two heterozygous parents, either memorization or solving the punnett square would give you the answer. When looking at the probability of a son having hemophilia when his mother is a carrier of hemophilia but doesn’t have it herself and his father is also a carrier, it would be 50%. This can be solved through a simple punnett square.
However, learning the process of meiosis was difficult. Because mitosis and meiosis have always been said together, trying to understand that meiosis wasn’t a cycle but instead was a way to make gametes took a lot of time, making it much harder than the rest of the concepts from this unit.
But during this unit, we were assigned a project where we made an infographic. Doing the infographic was very helpful in solidifying my understanding of these concepts because in addition to learning about the concept in the vodcast and then testing ourselves through the check for understanding quizzes, we practiced each of the concepts while making our infographic.
After watching the vodcasts and taking the CFU’s, I still didn’t understand the different types of dominances very well, specifically codominance and incomplete dominance. However after I did the infographic, after I searched up more graphics and explained what each of those specifically meant, I was very clear on the concept.
This taught me how to be a better student and learner through a lesson that can be applied to anything I do, which is to not stop my learning at the vodcasts and the CFU’s but to take that extra step to understanding the concept, whether it be watching another video about the concept or finding a picture explaining the concept.
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